Safety device for laundry extractors



NOV. 15, 5 A N L D 1,887,519

SAFETY DEVICE FOR'LAUNDRY EXTRACTORS Filed Oct. 23, 1951 JNVENTOE' I N} .9402] (fl/2% ATToRwEY Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES SAMUEL A. SANG-SLAND, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAoNnnYnx'rRAcrroRs Application filed October 23, 1931. Serial No. 570,676. 2

My invention relates to an automatic safety lock particularly adaptable for use in laundry extractor machines in which a rotatable cylinder is used and mounted within a concentric housing. Such extractors are provided with a hinged lid to close the housing opening through which clothes are placed in the cylinder. The main object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient de- 0 vice which holds said lid locked to thehousing while the cylinder is in motion and permits opening of the lid only when the cylinder has stopped, thus eliminating all danger of injury to operators of such machines. Because of the high speed at which such cylinders are rotated there has hitherto been considerable danger and injuries have resulted from premature opening of such devices while the cylinder was still in motion.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a top view of an extractor with its lid open and my improved device in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 but portions of the stationary casing and the cylinder shown in section about as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my device except the catch which is fixed on the lid of the extractor.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as on line H of Fig. 1 showing the mounting of my device within the extractor.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, I have illustrated a well known type of so-called extractors used in laundries, comprising a stationary upwardly opening round casing 10 mounted on a pedestal 11 0 with suitable base 12. lVithin this casing is a cylindrical member 13 rotatably mounted on and rotatable with a supporting shaft 14. The walls of this cylinder are perforated as 13F and it is open upwardly as 18A concentrio of the opening 10A of the housing and within the latter. The cylinder 13 is of considerably smaller diameter than the casing leaving a circular opening A between them. 15 is a lid hinged at 15H to the top part of the housing and adapted to be lowered to close the opening 10A when the cylinder 13 is to be rotated.

Laundered clothes of all descriptions are put into the cylinder while saturated or damp and rotation of the cylinder at high speed causes rapid drying of the garments. This is well known in laundering processes. Mydevice is an attachment to prevent accidental opening of the lid while the cylinder is rotating, said device being made preferably as shown but mayv embody some modifications not shown.

Q'The device'comprises a depending elongated vane 16 fixed on an arm 17, normally vertical, said arm near its upper end being bent to horizontal and rotatable in a bearing 18 fixed as at 19 to the under side of the top of the casing 10 in proximity to its opening 10A. Above the bearing 18the member 17 is formed with an upwardly" directed arm 17 Aprojecting above the top surface of the casingand-having a hook 17H formed at its extremity. 20 is a radial arm fixed on the lid 15 to project beyond its perimeter and so located that when the lid is lowered the arm will pass by the hook 17H. just described. See-arrow 21,Fig. 2. I I

In Fig. 1, arrow 22 indicates direction of rotation of the cylinder 13 (clockwise). This rotation sets up a current of air between the cylinder and the casing, also in clockwise di-. rection. This air current contacts with the vane 16 hanging inthe space A and as the current increases the vane and its arm 17 are tilted upwardly as indicated by arrow 23 in Fig. 2. This action causes the upper arm 17A to be tilted rearwardly and its hook 17H to engage over the arm 20 which is in its path. Obviously the stronger the current of air the harder the hook 17H will engage the lid-arm 20 holding the latter so that the lid is locked in closed position as long as the cylinder is in motion and there is a current of air tilting the Vane. As soon as the cylinder 9'5: is stopped the current of air ceases, the vane 16 automatically drops to hanging position and hook 17H is in the original position shown in Fig. 2 and out of the path of pin 20, at which time the lid can of course be i naled to the casing near its opening and nor-' raised freely and only after the cylinder has ceased to rotate.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4, 24 is a small sheet metal housing fixed on top of casing 10 to inclose the upper vane-arm 17A17H which is freely movable therein and below an opening 24A through which the arm 20 is movable. In other Words this member 24-is merely a guard over theotherwise movable parts.

It will now be readily understood that my device utilizes the current of air generated 7 outside of the revolving cylinder ofthe extractor to move a vane which in turn locks the lid while the cylinder is rotating. Obviously a number of modifications in details of structure may be embodied without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. I r

I claim:

A safety device for extractors having a rotary cylinder mounted concentric within astationary upright casing, said cylinder and casing provided with registering upper openings, and a lid hinged to the casing for'closing its aperture; a depending vane-arm jourmally suspended vertically between adjacent walls of the casing and cylinder, a fixed lock arm on said lid comprising a bar protruding radially from the side of the lid, and positioned to lie in a horizontal plane over said journaledpart of the vane-arm, when closed, said vane-arm comprising further an integral upper arm extending at an incline above its journal and thence bent to form an open-hook directed toward and over said lock-arm of the lid but out of the path of the latter when the cylinder is stationary, said vane arm adapted to be swung in a vertical plane by air. currents between the cylinder and said casing and simultaneously move said upper arm over the said lock-arm of the lid, and a guard housing mounted on said casing over the upper vane-arm and provided with an aperture in its vtop for said lock-arm of the lid to pass freely through to its lowered position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL A. SANGSLAND. 

